Tristan Thompson Quotes

The contention is if you don't do it in the first quarter, if you don't box out and control the glass in the first quarter, you are not going to do it in the fourth quarter and overtime.

Moments can change games; moments can create a run.

Thankfully we had a big drive there in the fourth quarter after the fumble to put us up 11, and then the big drive to finish the game.

I make impact plays. I make game-changing plays.

In every game, there's three teams out there. There's the two basketball teams and the team of officials. If the two teams are evenly matched, it can come down to number of possessions. If one out-of-bounds call goes the wrong way, that can be the difference.

I think I've always been a player who's done better in the second half, who's done better in the fourth quarter. That's the fun time to play, when everything you've worked for the whole game boils down to those last few possessions.

In an individual sport, yes, you have to win titles. Baseball's different. But basketball, hockey? One person can control the tempo of a game, can completely alter the momentum of a series. There's a lot of great individual talent.

Winning that first game was so important; my mother always said that the first game of the second set was the chance to keep it going if you were ahead or change things if you were behind.

You don't want to be down 2-0 in a series. It's always important to try and get one on the opponent's home court. It makes your job at home easier.

Conceding just before half-time never helps.

Often in football a game is really balanced and one small detail will make the difference between winning and losing. We try to find the detail that makes the difference for us.

Anytime the defense scores first - anytime the defense scores when I'm on the bench - that's big time. That takes a little pressure off.

Without the hand check rule, players are more likely to work their way open.

The fourth quarter is where players are made.

I feel like I need to find ways to disrupt the other team and apply that pressure they might not be used to. I think being able to set that tone is something I'm priding myself on.

Guard some point guards, late shot clock, hopefully they miss.

At home is where you have to be stronger and get more points and make the other team feel uncomfortable.

Depending on the point in the game and what's necessary, if you can deliver the play, whatever that is - heck, if it's a screen - and you get a guy open, and he scores a big basket for you, that gives me as much of a charge as anything.

Momentum is a whole lot in the game of basketball. People dwell on momentum, but that really does matter.

I've actually enjoyed pitching on the road in the postseason. You go out there, and you're getting booed, and it's fun to try to silence the crowd.

I think scoring first is huge in the postseason.

When we're leading during the game, we have to squeeze the opponent.

I just like watching good basketball being played.

Rebounding in practice and rebounding in games are two completely different things.

The game changes when you play good defense and don't come up with the ball.